West of England businesses are a step closer to being able to choose their water and sewerage suppliers following a move by Bristol Water and Wessex Water.
The two utilities have applied to the Secretary of State at Defra for permission to exit the water and wastewater non-household retail market in readiness for retail separation next April. 
It means that while both companies will continue to physically supply water and provide the sewerage service for business customers – along with charities and public sector organisations – they will no longer be the first point of contact for billing or operational inquiries that business customers may have.
From the smallest high street shops to the largest public authorities, more than 1.2m eligible customers in England will be able to shop around and choose their retailer or renegotiate their existing deal.
This means they could benefit from saving money off their bill and help the environment through tailored water efficiency measures, receive consolidated bills if they are a multiple-site business by working with a retailer that provides the right service for them.
The new water market is called Open Water and it officially opens for business on April 3. On this day, with approval from Defra, Bristol Water and Wessex Water propose to separate their wholesale business and transfer all non-household customers to water2business, a retailer they jointly set up.
Since 2001 all Bristol Water and Wessex Water customers have been jointly billed for their water and waste water services. Water2business – born out of this successful joint billing venture – will be the business customers’ new supplier following the transfer under the exit process.
Wessex Water managing director Andy Pymer said: “We are in a unique position of having an established and successful working relationship with water2business and are confident that customers will receive the same standards of service that they are used to from Bristol Water and Wessex Water.”
After the market opens, business customers will have their day-to-day enquiries with their retailer.
Bristol Water and Wessex Water will continue to deliver wholesale services to retailers’ business customers and there is no change for household customers.
Bristol Water customer services and IT director Ben Newby added: “Retail competition changes the customer journey for businesses. Whilst this change is complex behind the scenes, it will be straightforward and seamless for the customer,” said
Business accounts will be automatically transferred to water2business so business customers don’t need to do anything, although from April 2017 they will have the option to switch to a different water retailer.
For more information, visit www.open-water.org.uk
